Wednesday, June 26, 2013

"When you're happy for no reason, you bring happiness to your outer experiences rather than trying to extract happiness from them. You don't need to manipulate the world around you to try to make yourself happy. You live from happiness, rather than for happiness."

Friday, June 21, 2013

Today represents the longest day of the year. Many relate to the summer solstice as the first day of summer but in reality it is mid-summer or when the fire energy and the sun are at peak level. In feng shui, the fire element is the strongest. It aligns to our soul's mission in life, our dreams and aspirations.

Today is a perfect day to honor the fire within the body and your space. The fire element is associated with the power of the suns energy or the south. It's a great idea to open up the windows and let the sun shine in throughout the home but especially in the southern rooms. Take a moment to spend some time in these rooms. Make note of how they feel and if the fire element is vibrant. Fire represents images of animals, people, the sun or diamond and triangular shapes. Candles are also a great representation of the fire element along with any fire color hues such as red, burgundy, purple or bright yellow. Also make sure the fire element is represented in all your rooms. Little touches here and there go a long way and are perfect to lift the energy in an otherwise yin area.

Take time to reflect on what your goals, aspirations and life purpose is. Write them down and take a few moments to meditate and see them unfold in your life. A vision board is also a great idea for today. If you have one perhaps it is a good time to refresh it. Finally, take time outdoors today and perhaps make an offering to Mother Earth with a short ceremony including making a fire. This will open the fire within your soul.

Don’t go outside your house to search for jewels.
Don’t even bother with that excursion, my friend.
There are jewels inside yourself.
Precious, profound and ready to be discovered.
These jewels are just like flowers.
Some are taking root. They are in the process of being fertilized and getting ready to sprout.
Others are growing and budding , preparing to flower.
There are also beautiful blooms inside, brimming with fragrance and lively vitality.
Others are in stages of decline, getting ready to retreat, recycle themselves,
and naturally cycle back to the beginning.
Like a bouquet of flowers, there are jewels within you.
There is a sparkling ruby red jewel and it’s so stabilizing and protective.
There is an orange carnelian jewel too. It lights up your senses, creativity and ability to feel.
There is a beautiful amber jewel, radiating confidence, inner strength and courage.
There is an emerald jewel too. The glowing emerald green jewel is loving, forgiving and kind.
There is a bright sapphire blue jewel shining with truth and sparks your creativity.
There is an amethyst glowing inside that awakens your intuition and shows you the big picture.
There is a crystal clear diamond, shining with spirit, connecting the Holy Ones with you.
Don’t go outside your house to search for jewels.
Don’t bother with that excursion, my friend.
There are jewels inside yourself,
waiting to be discovered, polished and ready to beam beautifully.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

In a sense, the simplest advice we have heard about God is also the most
profound. At least once a day, let go and let one situation be handled
by God or your soul or whatever agent of higher wisdom you choose. Hmm, sounds so simple yet why is that so hard for us to do? Is it the fragile ego that gets in the way? Something to ponder for the day...

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Back
in action for the summer! This is a great time to get into sun
salutations. Start your practice with with some easy breath work while
moving into some cat-cows to loosen the mid-body. Step to the top of
your mat to powerful mountain pose. Tucking the tailbone under, drawing
the belly up and back, draw the chin in and release the shoulders down
the back. Inhale deeply as you raise the arms overhead taking the gaze
upward. Exhale and bend forward from the hip joints and draw the torso and of the groins and open space to pubis bone up to sternum. The idea is to lengthen the front torso. If possible bring fingertips to the floor slightly in front beside your feet or bring palms to back of ankles. Turn the thighs slightly inward during the fold. Lift and lengthen with each inhalation and each exhalation move fully into the forward fold. Inhale and raise half way to a flat back position and exhale fold again.From standing forward fold move into high lunge, bending your knees on an inhale send your left leg back while laying your torso on the right thigh. Exhale and step the right foot back into high plank looking forward and lifting the chin. In plank pose draw the belly up and back towards the spine making sure your wrists are beneath the shoulders. Press the outer arms inward and widen the shoulder blades. From this position lower to 4 limb staff pose or chaturanga. With an exhalation lower the body and legs a few inches from the floor while thighs rotate slightly inward. Keep space between the shoulder blades and do not let the elbows splay out to the sides.From 4 limb staff pose move to upward facing dog. Inhaling pressing the hands firmly into the floor with tops of feet to the mat as if you were trying to push yourself forward along the floor. Straighten your arms and lift the torso and legs off the floor on the inhalation keeping the thighs firm and rolling slightly inward. On the exhalation shift to downward facing dog. Lift the sitting bones towards the ceiling while pressing the heels towards the floor. Do not lock out the knees and make sure you widen the shoulder blades. Take a few breaths here and step the right foot up between the hands back to high lunge followed by the left foot into your forward bend. Inhale and reverse the swan dive with arms over head and exhale to mountain pose. Repeat this sequence and often as you like while bowing to the light above and within.Simple Meditation to Follow:Sit in easy pose allowing the sitting bones to root into the earth. Lengthen the spine and slightly tuck the chin. Allow the backs of the hands to rest on the knees and tuck the thumbs inward allowing the remaining fingers to wrap around the thumbs. This is a very grounding and relaxing hand mudra position. Take several rounds of Hum Sa breath - in through the nose and release out from the nose repeating the sound "Hum" on the in breath and the sound "Sa" on the out breath. Turn the gaze inward and focus on the point between the brow. Take in the ambient sounds of nature and capture the peace within.Om Shanti!Mary Jane Kasliner - Feng Shui Master & yogiwww.fengshuiyoganj.com